Honour And Dishonour In Macbeth Essay

In the play Macbeth by William Shakespeare, we see plenty of characters come and go. Death here death there. The main character Macbeth does some questionable things to “earn'' his throne of Scotland. Honour and Dishonour is a consistent theme throughout the play. Macbeth himself, along with Lady Macbeth, his wife, both display honourable and dishonourable moments. Macbeth shows violent Honour and dishonour, while Lady Macbeth uses vocal. In their own ways, they both shed light on the topic. Macbeth and Lady Macbeth, are two peas in a pod. Bonding over their terrible truths. They truly are perfect together.

Honour is praised in times of war. Having a principled army and right-hand men is their way to push and win. In this case, Macbeth

Filled with backstabs, murderers, and long soliloquies. The Murder of King Duncan is foul. The first murder of the play, that kick starts the play. Macbeth believes the prophecies of the three Witches and listening to his wife, he commits a murderous crime. Macbeth said “ Methought, I heard a voice cry. ‘Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep’- the innocent sleep, sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care, the death of each day’s life, sore labour's bath. Balm of hurt minds, great nature's second course, chief nourisher, in life’s feast”(2.2.47-52). This quote is saying that Duncan is dead. Macbeth killed him during his sleep. Breaking down further, Macbeth says “Innocent sleep”. Duncan was unconscious of what was happening to him. No chance to fight back, no chance to save himself. A disgraceful way to die for a King. A disgraceful way for the new King to acquire his throne. Banquo is an Honourable character. Rule follower. Anything for his country. He loves his country more than his friend. When he started to get suspicious of how Macbeth became King, Macbeth had him killed. His best friend, soon to be dead. Macbeth could not even man up enough to do it himself. Hiring a hitman to do his dirty work for him. The smartest idea he has had all play. He could barely finish the job with the King, bringing the murder weapon back and all. After Macbeth has hired the assassins and sent them on their way he says “ It is concluded: Banquo,

The planner. The man of the house. The balance of honour and dishonour. Lady Macbeth does dishonourable things to other people, like Duncan, but it is in the process to honour her husband, Macbeth. Taking the Duncan example, of how she planned and convinced Macbeth to kill the King. She did it for him. Wanting to honour Macbeth, so he can seek the glory he has wanted. When Lady Macbeth said “O, never. Shall sun that morrow see; your face, my thane, is a book where men may read strange matters. To beguile the time, look like the time; bear welcome in your eye; your hand, your tongue: look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it. Get that coming must be provided for and you shall put this night’s great business into my dispatch; which shall to all our nights and days to come to give solely sovereign sway and masterdom”(1.5.67-77). But also, “Only look up clear; To alter favour ever is to fear: leave all the rest to me” (1.5.79-81). The first quote is Lady Macbeth, taking Macbeth and saying all the nice things that would happen if he was king. But also that it would take too long to wait, and he would need to take action, quickly. It also mentions how two-faced Macbeth is. On the outside to others, mainly Duncan, he is loyal, and honourable. Underneath/ behind a mask, he is truly a serpent of destruction. He and Lady Macbeth believe him to be a world serpent but in reality, his mighty and foolish action causes him to be nothing